The 20th Century
Americus Brass Band

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Doles’ Brigade Band (1976 – 1985)

The Doles’ Brigade Band was organized on August 22, 1976¹recollection of Bill Gay at a Civil War re-enactment at historic Fort Tejon, CA, north of Los Angeles. Civil War re-enacting was “their thing” and Bob Wiebe was their fearless leader. They were the third Civil War re-enactment band to form after Fred Benkovic’s 1st Brigade Band in Wisconsin and the 5th Michigan Brass Band.

Original members that summer included Bob Wiebe† – drum major and founder, John Hannan – percussion and conductor, and Bill Gay – tenor horn.

Over the next four years, Leigh Schwartz – Eb bass, Bob Davis† – Baritone, Don Jackson – tenor, Tim Catlin – Bb cornet, Mike Steffens Eb cornet, Phil Keen – Bb bass, and Mitch Mocilnikar – alto, all added their talents to the group.

Other early members included Mike Avila, Tony Calma, Terry Handy, Tom Harper, Peter Jorgenson, Peter Hollister, Russell Park, Pat Redmond, Ken Salvati and Al Underwood. It should be noted that most of these guys played in the band at CSULB (California State University, Long Beach), directed by Prof. Larry Curtis†.

And last but not least, Earl Roberts†²Earl was somewhat older than the very young (teenaged) musicians in the band and was sort of a father figure to many of them, but he lived with severe health issues that ultimately led to a terminal cancer diagnosis late in the 1970s. The story goes that Earl was very ill and hospitalized at the end of his life and the band decided to serenade him one last time in his room. They arrived to find Earl in a coma but as they began to play, he sat up and seemed to revive all his old health and vigor. He loved those guys! The band played several pieces of Civil War music before the staff said they had to stop, and an exhausted but happy Earl thanked them one last time. He died later that same day, lost but not forgotten. was a friend of the band who played an extremely important role in inspiring the passion for historical authenticity in the group. And historically accurate performance practices would become one of our most important goals.

† in memoriam

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From the beginning they sought an historically authentic sound through the use of original antique instruments from the Civil War era and began collecting with the expert help of Mr. Mark Elrod.³Mark frequently performed with the band. He was the librarian for the US Marine Band and co-authored A Pictorial History of Civil War Era Musical Instruments and Military Bands with Robert Garofalo.

The guys spent their weekends that first year up at Ft. Tejon with occasional trips to the midwest for battle re-enactments.

In 1977, the band began regular summer work at Knotts’ Berry Farm, an association which would continue for over a decade.

The band’s first concert was in 1978. They played for the dedication of a handicapped swimming pool in Long Beach, CA with Ida Lupino, the famous Hollywood actress, known for her work with polio victims.

Early Civil War battle re-enactments – The first was at Chickamauga, Georgia (1979); followed by Prairie Grove, Arkansas; Mansfield, Louisiana; Manassas, Virginia; and Galveston, Texas (2 times). Leigh Schwartz recalled an educational concert given at a local school in Galveston:

“We played at an elementary school as part of the reenactment. When we played ‘Dixie’ the entire school stood and saluted (and sang⁴Mitch Mocilnikar, memory from 2026.). We were freaked out.”

The band also played frequent concerts in Old Town San Diego, CA.

The band often played music for Civil War Blue/Gray Balls with Desmond F. Strobel (1929 – 2003), “dance master to the stars.” They also recorded their 2nd LP⁵The first recording (LP) was made a couple of years earlier and has since been lost. Needs more info., A 19th Century Grand Ball, in 1987.

First TV Movie – North and South. In 1984 Hollywood producer Ray Herbeck Jr, a friend of the band’s, hired us for this and several other movie gigs over the years. But in the fall of 1985, when it came time to record the source music for the scenes we’d filmed, composer Bill Conti took our sheet music and hired studio musicians instead! Loren (already a studio musician) still played on it and Mike Steffens recorded all the bugle calls.

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Americus Brass Band (1985 – 2026)

Next Steps

Newer members – Kurt Curtis (cornet), Richard Birkemeier (cornet), David Scott (cornet), David Wailes (cornet), Loren Marsteller (baritone), Brad Harris (tenor), Ken Peters (percussion), Jerry Wheeler (alto & tenor), Pat Mullen (cornet), and Jeremy Swem (tenor).

Elected officers – Kurt Curtis, president, Leigh Schwartz, treasurer, Dave Scott, secretary, Richard Birkemeier, music director, Phil keen, instrument manager.

The band registered for non-profit status (501c3) under the new name, Americus Brass Band – thanks to Leigh.

Regular subs – Alan Baer, Richard Candelaria, Larry Curtis†, Chris Eble, Tim Hall, Toby Holmes, Chuck Hughes, Wendell Kelly, Paul Klintworth, Robert Krizo, Steve Mahpar, Brendan McBrian, Fred McDowell, Dustin McKinney, Melissa Rodgers, Robert Ryan, Don Sawday, Doug Tornquist, Eric Vismantas, David Washburn, and many others!

Actors – Jacob Whitkins†, Keith Peters (the first “old Zitterbart”), Eric Love, Karan Founds†, Mark Torreso†, Katie Jensen, PM Howard†, and Dirk Zweibel (as Jack Sinclair)

† in memoriam

For several years, we rehearsed nearly every Sunday night at the CSULB Music Dept. Pizza after!

The Knotts’ Berry Farm (see photo gallery) gig continued with full-time summer employment as the Ghost Town Militia Band, the Surf Band, and the infamous Caveman Band! We also played for the Christmas season for several years. This is also where Mike found the love of his life, selling flowers. Lea later played her clarinet on two CDs with the band.

Civil War Battle Re-enactments

125th anniversary battle of Bull Run, July 1986

125th anniversary battle of Gettysburg – July, 1988 w/Mark Elrod – ain’t camping great!

TV Movie – Once Upon a Texas Train – 1988 w/Arthur Rubinstein. Filmed a ballroom scene in Hollywood with Angie Dickinson, Willie Nelson, and Richard Widmark. Our part of that scene was left on the cutting-room floor!

Queen Mary, Disneyland Hotel – We got a new summer gig at the Queen Mary tourist attraction in Long Beach to replace Knott’s Berry Farm. We created small brass bands – Bellhop Bops, Brass Tax, and Six Pak Brass from June 1988 – 1991.

The band continued to do the occasional period ball with Desmond Strobel at various SoCal locations including the iconic Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, CA and the Ebell Club in LA.

First Film – Alamo, the Price of Freedom. Our first film experience was an IMAX production filmed in San Antonio, TX in the summer of 1987. We recreated Santa Anna’s Mexican military band and did the shoot while on a re-enactment tour in the south. Hollywood producer Ray Herbeck Jr, a friend of the band, produced the movie.

Major Motion Picture #1 – Glory – 1989 w/James Horner
Our next movie job was to provide period instrument source-music for the movie about the first Black Regiment to fight in the Civil War. After the North and South fiasco, we were very apprehensive and didn’t believe it would actually happen until we were sitting in the studio at Sony Pictures in Culver City and James Horner was on the podium. What fun!!! But we still had a problem with our high pitched antique instruments. In that era before digital recording, one of our marches had to be re-recorded with modern horns because it wasn’t in tune with the studio orchestra and the Harlem Boy’s Choir. But the outdoor ball scene in the movie features our “Jordan Am A Hard Road” performance in all its “glory” and probably contributed to the film’s Oscar for Sound Production that year, right?

A year later, we recorded period source-music for the Republic Picture TV mini-series Son of the Morning Star (1990). We were re-creating authentic military band music on period instruments such as might have been played by Col. George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry band in the 1870s.

Compact Disc #1 – Music of the Civil War for Summit Records. In March, 1991 the band recorded its 1st CD with the expert assistance of Jeff Reynolds, world-renowned bass trombonist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Jeff helped us gain control of the pitch on our Civil War brasses and the CD received several favorable reviews, often mentioning the outstanding pitch of the band. Barry Kilpatrick in American Record Review Magazine (Jan/Feb 1992) wrote, “Americus Brass Band of Long Beach, CA, now adds further proof that excellent intonation and individual musicianship go hand in hand. Melodies are delightful, oompahs unobtrusive, phrases shaped nicely. The affable tone indicates a warm rapport between director Richard Birkemeier and the players. And they sing well too – four part harmony in “Fireman’s Polka”!

Touring Show #1 “Honor and Glory”
(1991 – 1998)

Also in 1991, the band decided to develop a touring show to take on the road. Inspired by the Jack Daniel’s Silver Cornet Band, we created an evening-length musical that told the story of the historical Americus Brass Band during the Civil War. Based on the facts as we knew them, (and taking a little license where we didn’t) we wrote and produced a two hour staged musical drama where the main character was the band and everyone had a part. We called it “Honor and Glory: Civil War Memories” and hired three actors and a stage/sound tech to complete the cast. After two dress performances in SoCal that fall, we premiered the show in Anoka, MN on November 15, 1991. The band had already secured artist management representation with Bill Fagan Attractions in Raton, NM and we began touring in the fall of 1992 for Columbia Artists Community Concerts.

The Virgin Tour – The group left Long Beach on October 9, 1992, played shows all across the southwest and midwest and ended in Cleveland two weeks later, tired but happy. Audiences gave us standing ovations at every stop and it seemed clear that we had a future on the road if we wanted it. (Photo Gallery)

Movies and TV shows, 1990s

In 1992 (the exact date seems to have been forgotten), the band recorded several marches and Civil War songs as source music for a movie to be based on Michael Shaara’s 1974 Pulitzer Prize-winning Civil War best-seller, The Killer Angels. The show was to be a TV mini-series but it was released as a major motion picture a year later by New Line Cinema with the simple title, Gettysburg. The recording session was memorable because the engineer wanted it done outdoors and we had to work around all the jets landing at the Long Beach airport.

1993 was a good year for movie work and we also recorded source music for Columbia Picture’s Geronimo, An American Legend with composer and Blues legend, Ry Cooder. We recorded some military marches to accompany an onscreen brass band and there was also a ballroom scene in which Richard Birkemeier sidelined on cornet along with Ry Cooder himself! Gene Hackman, Robert Duval and a young Matt Damon were the highlights of that scene which was choreographed by Desmond Strobel.

Finally, two of our pieces were included in John McEwen’s award-winning soundtrack for the epic 1993 television miniseries The Wild West.

In 1994, we recorded source music for, and appeared in, a ballroom scene in a two-part special of the popular TV series, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman called “The Washington Affair.” We recorded the Civil War era song, “Lilly Lee” which was used for the episode and then filmed the scene, recreating the US Marine Band performing in the White House for a grand ball. The company must have liked the band because we were invited back to film several additional episodes. Here are some snapshots.

Our next gig was a 1995 TV movie for the Family Channel called Tad. This Civil War movie about Abraham Lincoln’s youngest son featured several pieces of our band’s music and was our last Civil War movie before Cold Mountain in 2003.

Touring Show #2 – “The Dodge City Cowboy Band” (1995 – 1997) (See photo file)
The management of the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, CA liked the “Honor and Glory” show so much they asked us to create a new show for the next season. The band chose another historical brass band to feature, the Dodge City Cowboy Band of the late 19th century, and with the same cast and format, this show continued touring with CAMI for two more seasons.

Compact Discs # 2 & 3 “The Dodge City Cow-boy Band” – Recorded on Oct. 15 & 18, 1995 and “Wild West Music of Buffalo Bill’s Cowboy Band” with Mike Masterson – Oct. 16 & 17, 1995.
Jeff Reynolds, again served as our Tonmeister and we added woodwinds for the first time to recreate Buffalo Bill’s show band c. 1900. The ABB produced the Dodge City CD for sale at our touring shows, but the Buffalo Bill CD was produced by Dr. Mike Masterson and the Buffalo Bill Historical Society in Cody, WY. The “Buffalo Bill Wild West Show” CD was named a “Best of the Year” and “a must buy” by Randy Salas in Fanfare Magazine. Both CDs are filled with music that has never been recorded before and are now available on Summit Records.

International Brass Fest – In 1996, the band was invited to perform for the International Brass Fest II that was held in June at CSULB in Long Beach, CA. We performed the complete “Honor and Glory” show at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center.

Great American Brass Band Festival – Campbellsville, KY 1996. We were invited to perform a concert of our Cowboy Band repertoire for this national brass band festival.

Outstanding Alumni Award – CSULB – Finally, to cap off an amazing year for the American Brass Band, the College of the Arts at California State University Long Beach, the alma mater for most of the band, chose to honor the entire group with their “Outstanding Alumni” award for 1996. The award was given to acknowledge the band’s national reputation for excellence in performance, as well as historical preservation.

Educational Shows – As the touring business began to wane in the late 90s, the band expanded its offerings and developed an educational show for school children. Featuring uniforms from both the north and south, we played Civil War band music with narration for school assemblies in Los Angeles and all around Southern California. Two of our regular stops were Oak Av. Middle School in Temple City and Ridgecrest High School in China Lake.

Hollywood Bowl – 1999. The ABB ended the millennia with a concert at perhaps the most iconic venue in America, The Hollywood Bowl. Joining Larry Curtis’s American Winds Concert Band, we played the first half of a special Saturday night fireworks works extravaganza. The performance again earned an excellent review in the LA Times. John Henken described our performance as “blazing” and “taut,” and went on to write “its 13 members handled their assignments with virtuoso flair.” Photos here

National Civil War Brass Band Festival – Campbellsville, KY, July, 2000. We were invited to perform two different concerts, one of our Port Royal Band repertoire and one more generic Civil War repertoire. We also performed in the massed brass band for guest conductor and festival honoree, Dr. Frederick Fennell.

Battle of Pea Ridge Civil War Re-enactment in Princeton, IL One of our last re-enactments was in October, 2000 with Desmond Strobel. We played a concert and a ball with Desmond and it was our last time with him. (Lots of photos)

Acoustical Society of America Conference (2000) – We were invited to give a special concert for their national conference held in Newport Beach that December. We did a presentation on our Civil War brass instruments along with the music.

SCSBOA Concert – In February, 2001, the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association invited us to perform for their SoCal festival that winter in Anaheim. If memory serves, we marched in playing “The Sumter Light Guard March.”

The Civil War film, Cold Mountain (2003) was a major disappointment for the band. Composer T. Bone Burnett produced the sound track and hired the band to record on original instruments but provided no music at the session. Instead, the guys (a small sub-group of the band) were asked to “make something up.” The music from this chaotic session was ultimately left out of the movie.

Last Major Motion Picture – Hidalgo (2004) w/James Newton Howard. We were asked to reprise our role as Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show Cowboy Band for Disney’s horse-western starring Viggo Mortensen and a horse named TJ. (the story goes that Actor Viggo Mortensen grew so close to T.J. during production that he bought the horse after filming). The band sidelined in costume for the filming in the summer of 2002, and later recorded several Buffalo Bill marches for source music. The recording session went very well and was over in a couple of hours but it took five days over a two week span to film the Wild West Show scenes out at the old Marineland site on the Palos Verdes peninsula. Gallery

End of Trail World Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting and Wild West Jubilee – In 2001 and 2002 we were Buffalo Bill’s Wild West band for 19th and 20th annual “End of Trail” held by the Single Action Shooting Society. We pulled out our old cowboy band costumes and provided appropriate music for various events of their annual wild west event in Norco, CA. Most of us remember how cold it got after the sun went down!

19th Century Brass Band Tours, 2007 – 2014 for Kamstar Performing Artists. Interest in the Civil War seems to have run out in the new millennium so we created a new concert show that we called the “19th Century Brass Band” – with singers/narrators Mark Torreso and Katie Jensen. We found new artist management with Katherine Miller and her Kamstar Performing Artists Co. from San Francisco. The show was a concert with a performance of our standard Civil War repertoire in the first half. For the second half we changed costumes and instruments and played our Dodge City and Buffalo Bill Band music. Our first performance was at Cal State Fullerton’s new Meng Concert Hall – Feb. 10, 2007.

In 2014, John McEuen released a CD called John McEuen Presents: The Music of the Wild West. The award-winning soundtrack and companion piece was originally created for the epic 1993 television miniseries The Wild West. He used three of our pieces on this CD.

“Top Brass” – Our last touring show (2015 – 2018). Kathrine Miller asked us to create yet another concert show that would feature a “salute to the services” as the climax. She thought she could market it despite the large band, always a challenge! So we put our heads together and came up with a show that would really show off the talents in the group, but to do so required a permanent woodwind presence in order to play 20th century music and, especially, jazz! So that’s what we did.

“Top Brass” features the music of four of the most famous military bands in American history, Patrick Gilmore’s 44th New Hampshire band from the Civil War, John Philip Sousa’s US Marine Band from the 1880s, James Reese Europe’s Harlem Hell Fighters Band from WWI and Glenn Miller’s US Army Air Force Band from WWII. Adding a singer/pianist/narrator – Peggy Duquesnel and several woodwinds (with Brad Harris doubling on clarinet and saxophone), we were able to recreate all that music most effectively. And we finally got to do the big band jazz music we always knew we could. What fun!

It turned out to be an expensive show and we only performed it a few times – at El Camino College on 10/9/2016, in Englewood, Florida on 2/14/2017, at the SOKA PAC on 7/2/2017 and a show in Ramona, CA in 2018.

The next ABB recording was made in 2018, a recreation of the iconic Pathe recordings made by James Reese Europe and his “Harlem Hell Fighters” Band from World War I. We first came in contact with JRE’s music when we programmed several of his pieces on our “Top Brass” touring show. And this recording was the result of additional research into the original Pathe records that Europe made back in 1919, recordings that jazz historian Gunther Schuler said are the earliest examples of “big band” style jazz music. The result brings that amazing early ragtime/blues/jazz music back to life in a way that the original wax cylinder records can’t quite match.

With the retirement of several older band members, the band ceased to perform after one final concert right back where it all began, at CSULB’s Daniel Recital Hall in June 2019. The concert debuted the new James Reese Europe CD with conductor Richard Birkemeier narrating the amazing story of Lt. Jim and his band while the ABB recreated this early jazz music.

And now, in 2026, on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Americus Brass Band/Doles Brigade, it’s time to PARTY!! But first, in honor of our Golden Jubilee, we have re-released all of our recordings on Summit Records.

The Americus Brass Band is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
Donations are tax deductible as permitted by law.
© 2026 Americus Brass Band